To Supplement or Not To Supplement?

Welcome to Wellness Wednesday with Dr. Coen

1.  Do You Take Nutritional Supplements?
2.  Should You Take Nutritional Supplements?
3.  Do You Take The Right Nutritional Supplements?
4. Do You Take Too Many Nutritional Supplements?

    Our technological world bombards us daily with advertisements, promotional materials and new-found scientific evidence for the benefits of nutrient supplements.  How do we navigate the endless and conflicting nutritional information?  How do we know whether we should be taking supplements, which supplements are right for us and how much we should take?
    Rule number one is to follow the current advice of your primary care physician or health specialist.  If you have been prescribed a vitamin, mineral or supplement, take it according to the directions, and follow-up with your physician at regular intervals to track your status.
    There are three primary schools of thought on the role of nutrient supplements. (1)  Individuals with The Minimalist View  believe that all nutritional requirements can be met by food alone.  Underpinning this view is adherence to a highly balanced and seasonal diet of locally grown and whole foods that are free of pesticides and chemicals. You should drink filtered water free of contaminants, be in good health, exercise regularly, manage stress well and live a balanced life.  In other words, you should be in a state of optimum health.  I am awed by the people I meet who can achieve this.  Sadly, few people can actually sustain this lifestyle or state of well-being.
    (2) Individuals with the The Enthusiast View believe that supplements can cure most ills, maintain youthful vigor and support a longer life.  The foundation of this view is that supplementation is absolutely essential for absolutely everyone.  When used correctly, supplements can indeed prevent, alleviate or cure many of your ills.  They can help to slow the aging process of cells, and thereby the body.  If your body is healthy and well-nourished at the cellular level, with sufficient anti-oxidants and omega III oils to meet its needs, it will age more slowly and gracefully.  I have met well-informed enthusiasts who have a thorough understanding of their supplement regimes.  Regrettably, most others end up over supplementing themselves, overlapping nutrients across supplements, and spending far too much money on supplements they do not necessarily need.  Their best approach would be to visit a nutritional physiologist, naturopath, integrative medicine practitioner or other similarly qualified doctor to implement a balanced diet and lifestyle that is supported by a supplementation regime effectively tailored to the specific needs of the individual.
    (3) Individuals with The Temperatist View (moderate) believe that supplementation is a valuable and necessary health practice, but one that must be custom fit to each bio-individual. Joshua Rosenthal at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition uses the term “bio-individual” to express how each of us functions biologically differently from others, and how our biological function changes over time.  Your current state of health, age, lifestyle, nutrition, stressors, emotional and mental well-being, for instance, determine your biological function and your need for supplements or not.  These needs  change over time as our bodies and circumstances change. I subscribe to this view.
    Given the modern challenges of our world - high stress, little down time, environmental pollutants, processed foods, inactive lifestyles - I seldom meet an individual who would not benefit from supplemental vitamins, minerals, omega IIIs and anti-oxidants. But I do not believe in unnecessary supplementation or taking supplements that are poor quality or have low bio-availability.  I believe that the core source of all nutrients must be a well-planned and well-balanced diet.  There is no substitute for fresh, whole foods prepared at home.  All nutrients require co-factors to function optimally in the body.  The quality and utility of nutrients from a pill, gel or powder is far inferior to that from fresh food.  Different foods working together inside the body offer greater benefit than single nutrient supplements.  Sadly, most of us are not eating well-balanced, whole food diets, nor living calm, low stress lives. Many of us take multiple prescription medications.  Therefore we should consider supplementation as an informed approach to our nutritional gaps.
    There is no one-size-fits-all regime. Come and see me. Bring your bottles and jars.  Bring your concerns about whether you should be taking a supplement, whether you are taking too many supplements or if the supplements you are taking are the right ones for you.  We will spend an hour  assessing your supplementation regimen and ensure that it is meeting your specific needs.  No matter where in the world you live, you can contact me, we can work together very effectively over skype.  The most important thing is to give you the support and information you need to empower you to be healthy and well so you can live your best life.

Call me at Solomon Family Chiropractic, Geneva, NY, 315-789-2602 or contact me via e-mail at drcoen@natureandnurturenutrition.com